<p>European shares slumped across the board on Monday, taking the benchmark STOXX 600 into bear market territory as a lockdown in northern Italy due to the coronavirus outbreak and a 30% plunge in oil prices amplified fears of a global recession.</p>.<p>The pan-European STOXX 600 fell 6.1% by 0807 GMT, entering bear market - commonly defined as a 20% drop from all-time highs.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/business-news/markets-live-carnage-on-d-street-sensex-crashes-over-2300-points-crude-suffers-historic-collapse-811053.html" target="_blank">Follow live developments on the stock markets here</a></strong></p>.<p>London's commodity-heavy FTSE 100 was down 8.0%, with shares of oil majors BP and Royal Dutch Shell down more than 20%. The top decliner on the STOXX 600 was Tullow Oil, with an eye-popping 57% drop.</p>.<p>Europe's oil & gas index tumbled 7.3%, with crude prices in a free fall after Saudi Arabia started a price war by slashing its official selling price and setting plans for a dramatic increase in crude production next month.</p>.<p>Italy became the frontline of the crisis in Europe after the government ordered a virtual lockdown across much of its wealthy north, including the financial capital Milan, in a drastic new attempt to try to contain the outbreak.</p>
<p>European shares slumped across the board on Monday, taking the benchmark STOXX 600 into bear market territory as a lockdown in northern Italy due to the coronavirus outbreak and a 30% plunge in oil prices amplified fears of a global recession.</p>.<p>The pan-European STOXX 600 fell 6.1% by 0807 GMT, entering bear market - commonly defined as a 20% drop from all-time highs.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/business-news/markets-live-carnage-on-d-street-sensex-crashes-over-2300-points-crude-suffers-historic-collapse-811053.html" target="_blank">Follow live developments on the stock markets here</a></strong></p>.<p>London's commodity-heavy FTSE 100 was down 8.0%, with shares of oil majors BP and Royal Dutch Shell down more than 20%. The top decliner on the STOXX 600 was Tullow Oil, with an eye-popping 57% drop.</p>.<p>Europe's oil & gas index tumbled 7.3%, with crude prices in a free fall after Saudi Arabia started a price war by slashing its official selling price and setting plans for a dramatic increase in crude production next month.</p>.<p>Italy became the frontline of the crisis in Europe after the government ordered a virtual lockdown across much of its wealthy north, including the financial capital Milan, in a drastic new attempt to try to contain the outbreak.</p>